Turkey is going to use pistachios as a new form of energy to fuel an eco-friendly city due to be established in the southeastern part of the country.

"We are planning to obtain biogas, a kind of renewable energy, from burning pistachio shells," said Seda Muftuoglu Gulec, a green building expert for the municipality of Gaziantep on Saturday.

The eco-friendly city, which is going to be constructed 11 kilometers (6 miles) from the province's capital city Gaziantep, would encompass 3,200 hectares and house 200,000 people.

"Gaziantep's potential in pistachio production is known, as well as its considerable amount of pistachio shells waste," Gulec said, adding, "We thought the ecological city could be heated by burning pistachio shells because when you plan such environment-friendly systems, you take a look at natural resources you have… If the region was abundant in wind power, we would utilize wind energy."

Formerly regarded as waste, pistachio shells could become a new form of energy if the project yields to a result.

"Imagine it just like a separate city," said the Turkish expert, expressing hopes that the project could be implemented in "very short period of time," if officials at the municipal level reached an agreement.

A pilot project of the pistachio-heated city will be carried out in a small 55-hectare area.

According to the United Nation's Food and Agriculture Organization, Turkey is the third biggest producer of pistachios after Iran and the United States.

Turkey exported 6,800 tons of the nuts, generating approximately $80 million (57 million euros) in income last year.